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Pietersheim Water Castle (ruins) – Beech Avenue in Pietersembos loop from Lanaken

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Pietersheim Water Castle (ruins) – Beech Avenue in Pietersembos loop from Lanaken

Moderate

4.7

(230)

1,021

hikers

Pietersheim Water Castle (ruins) – Beech Avenue in Pietersembos loop from Lanaken

03:06

12.0km

60m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 6, 2026

Tips

Temporary access restrictions

Includes segments with temporary access restrictions.

After 10.3 km for 85 m

Closed: • April-September, Monday-Sunday: 9:00 PM-8:00 AM • October, Monday-Sunday: 7:00 PM-8:00 AM • November-March, Monday-Sunday: 6:00 PM-8:00 AM (otherwise open)

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

533 m

Pietersheim Water Castle (ruins)

Highlight • Castle

The old moated castle is now only a ruin, but still worth seeing. It is located right next to the restored moated castle.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

1.09 km

Ancient Beeches and Oaks of Pietersembos

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

When you walk through this forest, a little reverence is in order. Because here there is not just one tree next to the other, here highly specialized creatures create a complex biotope.

Alongside oaks, beeches are among the most important deciduous trees in central European forests, including here in the Pietersembos. They provide a habitat for up to 7,000 animal species, of which the majority (5,000) are insects, around 100 are vertebrates, i.e. birds and mammals, and the rest are single-celled organisms, worms, snails or spiders.

Beeches can live up to 300 years; in individual cases older specimens have also been found. Oak trees get even older. The robust trees can grow to be 400 to 700 years old, and a few thousand-year-old oaks are also known.

Translated by Google •

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4.95 km

Beech Avenue in Pietersembos

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

It is one of the two premium hiking trails that have been classified by the German Hiking Institute in Belgium.
Deutsches Wanderinstitut: "The tour fully exploits the landscape's potential and combines natural and cultural-historical elements to create a harmonious hiking experience. After starting at Pietersheim Palace and moated castle, it leads through the delightful light forests of the only Belgian national park. A contrast to these naturally developing ones Areas are old avenues hidden in the forest. The end of the tour is a beautifully designed leisure area with animal enclosures and refreshments. "
Details of the Hoge Kempen National Park about the tours:
nationaalparkhogekempen.be/sites/default/files/premium_3.pdf
Link to the German Hiking Institute:
wanderinstitut.de/premiumwege/belgien/pietersheim-bos-route
Our tour report with all photos and highlights:
komoot.de/tour/31216029

Translated by Google •

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7.80 km

Asbeek Trail in Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen

Highlight (Segment) • River

If you look closely and pay attention to the steep edge of the Kempisches Plateau, you will see that the Asbeek (i.e. Asbach) is artificial. Because there the course of the stream is higher than the soil to the east, which slopes down to the Meuse. Ramparts keep it within its banks. It was created centuries ago so that it could power the heather mills.

The water of the Asbeek is of good quality. Here you can find animal species such as the brook lamprey and the spring damsel.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

8.37 km

Wooden Lounge Chairs by the Stream

Highlight • Rest Area

Comfortable benches for "forest bathing" :-)

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8.39 km

Rest Benches by the Asbeek Stream

Highlight • Rest Area

Path over the Asbeek via stepping stones to 2 wooden resting sofas.
You see these resting sofas popping up in many places. Beautiful and practical in dry weather. Now (autumn) wet and green and therefore anything but inviting. But it remains a beautiful spot.

Translated by Google •

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9.01 km

Fern Forest and Wooden Bridge on the Asbeek

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

Watch out, you are walking through a living museum - because ferns (botanical: Filicinophyta, Polypodiopsida) are among the oldest plant species on earth. They were already growing when dinosaurs still ruled the earth, i.e. in the carboniferous earth history about 350 million years ago.

The ferns of that time developed into trees that grew up to 30 meters high and together with tree-like lycopod plants and horsetails formed large forests.
Ferns are living fossils like the primeval redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) or the ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba).

Translated by Google •

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9.75 km

Wooden Boardwalk Through Asbeek Wetlands

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Due to the geological composition, the soil is wet and boggy. Thanks to the wooden plank path, you can get dry feet through the terrain. But be careful when it's wet - the planks can be slippery!

Translated by Google •

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12.0 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.83 km

5.07 km

659 m

387 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

6.41 km

2.47 km

1.89 km

528 m

282 m

154 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Saturday 22 August

21°C

9°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

October 1, 2024,Premiumweg Pietersheim Bos Route - Nationalpark Hoge Kempen

wanderinstitut.de/premiumwege/belgien/pietersheim-bos-route

One of two premium routes in Belgium so far.

wandeleninlimburg.be/nl/wandelroutes/3378171

Showing Translation

July 18, 2022,🌴🌞🌳 🐕Nationalpark Hoge Kempen - Pietersheim Premiumweg durch den Wald

A wonderful way in these hot days. Lots of shade through the forest, different paths, benches for resting available. But I can also imagine that it will be tight at the weekend. Occasionally water, although I also had plenty of water for the dogs, and that was a good thing. Some streams flowed so sluggishly... I didn't see any poop …

Showing Translation

August 3, 2024,🇧🇪 Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen in Belgisch Limburg – VIVObarefoot wandelingen in Limburg

Yeah, it was OK. The highlight was the Ibiza market by the castle.

Showing Translation

April 22, 2025,Inspiratie; Toegangspoort Pietersheim 🇧🇪 - "Meule van Miet" - Waterburcht (rood) - Vanuit Parking 🅿️ Pieterheim-Kinderboerderij 🇧🇪🥾🌤️⛅☀️

wandeleninlimburg.be/nl/wandelroutes/3378171

Start: Parking 🅿️ Pieterheim-Kinderboerderij
Follow the red walking marker

Domein Pietersheim
Domein Pietersheim in Lanaken is a true treasure for lovers of nature and history. Situated amidst lush forests and green fields, this domain offers an idyllic setting for relaxation and exploration.

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February 27, 2022,Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen in Belgisch Limburg – VIVObarefoot wandelingen in Limburg

A great tour. But between km8 and 10, it is advisable to go around the outside of the path. Just too muddy.

Showing Translation

July 4, 2022,Hoge Kempen - Pietersheim - balisé triangle rouge

Oops... forgot to record the ride from the start 🙄 it's more like 11.4 km.
Very beautiful and calm course, a little more people around the castle and the children's farm.

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July 10, 2023,Nationaalpark Hoge Kempen, Belgien: Pietersheim - Waterburcht (rood)

Monday morning, a doctor's appointment was canceled at short notice and the weather should remain in the normal summer range; So put on hiking shoes and choose a destination.
We drove across the border into the Maasland, specifically into the Pietersheim domain near Lanaken, which is part of the Mechelse Heide nature reserve.
There we walked the RED ROUTE, which …

Showing Translation

November 13, 2022,Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen - Pietersheim

A great hike, not least because this November comes in October dress. Many narrow paths, lonely forests and history with the old moated castle. It was a lot of fun.

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Pietersheim Water Castle (ruins) – Beech Avenue in Pietersembos loop from Lanaken

Pietersheim Water Castle (ruins)

Ancient Beeches and Oaks of Pietersembos

Beech Avenue in Pietersembos

Asbeek Trail in Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen

Wooden Lounge Chairs by the Stream

Rest Benches by the Asbeek Stream

Fern Forest and Wooden Bridge on the Asbeek

Wooden Boardwalk Through Asbeek Wetlands

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